Kotaku: Ikaruga

Treasure Yasushi Suzuki's Art From Games Like Ikaruga, Sin & Punishment

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:00:00 EDT

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While not a games artist per se, seeing as he does work for everything from books to comics, Yasushi Suzuki still has his fans in the world of video games. Particularly amongst followers of Japanese developers Treasure. More »

Model Of Classic Shooter Painted In Pure Beauty

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST

Ikaruga, the 2001 shoot'em up, is a gorgeous looking game. So if an Ikaruga model is going to be an accurate reproduction, it needs to be gorgeous. This finished model does not disappoint. More »

An Ikaruga Model Kit? Oh My...

Luke Plunkett — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 01:30:00 EDT

I look at this amazing model kit on display at the 2010 All Japan Hobby Show in Tokyo and my first thought is a robot voice gargling PREHSZ STAAAHT BATTAN. My second thought is I need this. More »

It's A Good Week To Buy Ikaruga

Mike Fahey — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:20:00 EDT

If you've been avoiding spending 800 Microsoft points in order to let Treasure's beloved shoot-em up Ikaruga kill you repeatedly, then perhaps the Xbox Live Deal of the Week is for you. More »

Ikaruga & Pong Swap Polarities In Pong-Karuga

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:00:00 EST

"GoS-CPT-Stewart" is a student at game design school Full Sail. As part of his studies, he had to make a Pong clone. So he took Pong and mixed it with, of all things, Ikaruga. More »

Tough Video Games and Why They're Played

Owen Good — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT

In a brief look at Mega Man 9, the Wall Street Journal's Jamin Brophy-Warren notes that the game's deliberate flicker and slowdown were added in for reasons other than the retro-feel. They make the game more demanding. More »

Top Rated Ikaruga Player: "XBLA Version is Horrible"

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:20:21 EDT

Enjoy that XBLA Ikaruga? The current top-rated numero uno player Kingoro58k totally hates it. While he seems to put up with the XBLA port enough to reclaim his spot from a Finnish gamer, Kingoro58k writes on his
More »

Ikaruga Review: No Refuge For Wimps

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EDT

For the uninitiated, Treasure's Ikaruga is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up originally released for arcades, with ports for the Dreamcast and GameCube released in 2002 and 2003 respectively. It uses a simple mechanic of polarity—your ship, the Ikaruga, can switch between black and white states; there are no traditional shooter power ups, black and white beams are your only weapon. It's a system that belies its complexity. When white, the ship can absorb all white-colored incoming enemy fire. When black, the ship can absorb all black-colored incoming enemy fire. However, when firing on ships of the opposite color, the Ikaruga does double the damage. Oh, but there's more to it than that, a layer of depth that makes Ikaruga one part shooter, one part puzzler, with a dash of rhythm and strategy tossed in. How does the Xbox Live Arcade port hold up, with Ikaruga now seven years old? More »

Treasure Tackling Two Wii Titles

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:40:00 EDT

The latest issue of Nintendo Power, which is in the hands of subscribers right now features an interview with Masato Maegawa, the president of the beloved action game developer, whose Bangai-O Spirits is due to hit the Nintendo DS stateside this quarter. The Xbox Live Arcade remake of Ikaruga just went live, but Nintendo Power wants to know when Maegawa and crew will get some WiiWare titles out. More »

Frankenreview, Ikaruga (XBLA)

Mark Wilson — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT

Treasure's classic shoot 'em up Ikaruga has a simple premise. Turn your ship white, become immune to white attacks. Turn your ship black, become immune to black attacks. The casual onlooker would say the premise sounded simple. The seasoned Ikaruga player would say the premise sounded deceptively simple. More »

It's Official: Ikaruga Hitting XBLA This Week

Mark Wilson — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:40:00 EDT

In this week's XBLA update, we've finally gotten official confirmation that Ikaruga, the classic Japanese shoot 'em up (sorry, I despise the term "shmup") is coming to the platform this Wednesday, April 9th. Now in HD, players can enjoy standard leaderboards as well as online co-op and replay/save video support. It'll set you back 800 points. More »

Ikaruga For Xbox Live Arcade Finally Dated

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:20:18 EDT

The promise of Ikaruga for Xbox Live Arcade has been a constant tease since its official announcement in September. We know it's coming soon, but didn't know exactly when. Fortunately, the Japanese version of Xbox.com has put a date on it, pegging the release for Wednesday, April 9. That's a respectable distance from April 1, so we suspect our emotions aren't being stomped upon by cruel Japanese webmasters. Cross your fingers in hope that the world doesn't explode until at least April 10! More »

Ikaruga Achievements Mostly Doable

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:30:00 EDT

You know, I've actually finished Ikaruga on the Dreamcast. And I'm absolutely rubbish at shooters. So I'm proud of that. Finishing the game is one thing, though. Finishing it while also earning some of these Ikaruga achievements is something else. Something a little harder. While most of them involve just killing off a boss, which is reasonable, one involves clearing the game without using a single continue ,while another involves clearing a chapter without firing a single bullet. Miiiiiiiiiiight give those two a miss. More »

Ikaruga Rumored To Hit XBLA By April

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:40:33 EDT

When Microsoft announced the HD remake of Ikaruga last September, it said it was "coming soon." Then nothin'. Then, back in January, we thought that the Xbox Live Arcade release of Treasure's vertically scrolling shooter was just around the bend, time-wise. We haven't heard a peep from it since, just the sound of tears hitting the floor. More »

Cave Shmups Coming to Xbox 360

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:00:56 EST

Shooter specialty developer Cave is bringing two of its arcade shooters to the Xbox 360: DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou Black Label and Ketsui. The games will be out this year and ported by 5pb. Makes sense for the games to get Xbox 360 ports and that console does seem to be favorite among hardcore Japanese otaku — not to mention it'll give Cave a crack at the US market. With these titles, plus IKARUGA and Rez, the Xbox 360 seems to be shoot'em up console. More »

Recorder Girl Plays Into Our Hearts

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:40:21 EST

YouTuber shizuhohattori is recorder girl. She specializes in playing retro game tunes on her recorder. For that, and that alone, we adore her. Above, she tackles the IKARUGA theme for the first level, "Ideal." Think about that: This person liked IKARUGA enough to do a version on a recorder. So cool. More »

Ikaruga Coming Soonish? (Please Hurry)

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:00:41 EST

Treasure's legendary shooter IKARUGA has recently appeared on Xbox Live's Partner Net (the "insider's" version of XBL). Previously, the 49MB game appeared on Partner Net, but it wouldn't load. This time around, it's downloadable and playable. The game will support both 16:9 and 16:10 widescreen. It's appearance on Partner Net doesn't mean it's going to be out anytime soon. Fingers gently crossed that it be, however. More »

Ikaruga For Xbox Live Arcade Hands-On Impressions

Michael McWhertor — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 13:30:22 EDT

A four-kiosk attack of Xbox Live Arcade games was nestled in the middle of Microsoft's Xbox 360 booth at TGS, showing off dozens of titles old and new. Only one contained the XBLA remake of Treasure's black and white shmup Ikaruga in playable demo form. Featuring the first level of the game, the demo station at Tokyo Game Show may not have shown the remake in the best light. While Ikaruga for XBLA looks spectacular in screenshots—and according to Flynn, "really sharp" on a 42" HDTV—seeing it in non-tate mode on a 22" LCD doesn't show off the game's graphical upgrades in the proper light. More »

Treasure Too Busy With Xbox Live For PlayStation Network

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:00:00 EDT

Clean-cut Treasure boss man Masato Maegawa talked to 1UP just before the kick off of Tokyo Game Show 07, putting a shine on details for every upcoming Treasure game. The recently announced Xbox Live Arcade Ikaruga remake, for example, is taking up too much of the developer's resources, putting a hold on the unnamed Xbox 360 shooter that's said to be in the vein of its most famous shmups, Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga. Unfortunately for those in the PLAYSTATION 3 camp, Treasure isn't working on the PlayStation Network, devoting their resources to XBLA development. More »

New Treasure Game For Nintendo DS Revealed Soon

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:40:00 EDT

Japan has pre-TGS countdown fever!! In more exciting Treasure news, publisher ESP (aka Entertainment Software Publishing) has revealed that a Treasure-developed game for the Nintendo DS will be revealed in just five short, agonizing days. Hence the countdown clock, one that will beat Sega's Ryu Ga Gotoku countdown to the reveal by about a day. More »

Treasure Working On "New Action Game"

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 May 2007 02:00:33 EDT

Treasure, the cult-fav developer behind Ikaruga and Radiant Silvergun, is looking to start a "new action game." According to the company's site, Treasure is looking to hire a 3D CG programmer and designer. The homepage mentions there's an emphasis on originally for the new game. The company is also searching for a "motion leader," an effects designer, a character modeler, a background modeler and a scene designer. Hmm... Doesn't sound like they're making another shooter. Brandon Sheffield over at Insert Credit thinks it's a third person action game. I'm inclined to agree. Brian Ashcraft More »

Mod Your Dreamcast At Home

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 18:40:49 EDT

For the half dozen Sega Dreamcast owners out there who haven't burned or bought themselves a boot disc nor had their Saturn-successor professionally modded, what the hell are you waiting for? The console is rich with fantastic imports from all regions, meaning a single-region Dreamcast is an unrealized potential Dreamcast. More »

Clip: Top 10 Gamecube Games

Kim Phu — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:40:00 EDT

Dust off that box covered with Animal Crossing stickers, it's time to remember at the top ten games you loved (in my case) a year ago. But for all of you out there in Kotaku-land who already sold your box to buy something newer and shinier, this should make you reconsider picking one up at the next garage sale you crash. More »

Treasure Artist Gets Collection

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:40:38 EST

The fine folks at DrMaster Publications tipped us today to help in informing the internet that the collected works of famed Treasure designer Yasushi Suzuki will be coming stateside this May. More »

Ikaruga Coming to Live

Brian Crecente — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 13:12:22 EST

Computer and VIdeo Games reports that Dreamcast and Gamecube shooter Ikaruga is headed for the Xbox Live Arcade. More »

Radiant Silvergun 3 For 360? Nights For Wii?

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:40:17 EST

We dutifully passed on word in September that Project RS3 (for Radiant Silvergun 3, in which Project RS2 became Dreamcast shooter Ikaruga) was headed to the Xbox 360. Well, we passed on an assumption from Play that Treasure's "original shooting game" was rumored to be a trilogy-ending vertical shooter in the vein of Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga, but so far we've seen nothing concrete from Treasure or Microsoft. The only thing we know Treasure is officially working on is a sequel to their Nintendo DS fighter Bleach. More »

Things To Do In The Underworld When You're a Dead Samurai

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 09:22:04 EDT

Treasure, the folks behind Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga, aren't just known for intense shumps, but beautiful, intense shumps. It should be no surprise Treasure conceptual designer Yasushi Suzuki is now working on a manga called Purgatory Kabuki. The art is in the ukiyo-e woodblock style. The manga is getting a big push towards the gaming crowd as it'll be previewed in mag Play for five issues and two sixty-page chunks will be released on GameSpy. More »

360 Ikaruga Sequel In The Works?

kotaku.com — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 09:59:35 EDT

Exciting news, Ikaruga fans... rumor has it that Treasure is working on a grand finale to the Radiant Silvergun trilogy, rounding it all off on the 360. More »

Let's Have A Dreamcast Love-In!

Michael McWhertor — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 20:59:47 EDT

My fellow Kotakuites, I'd like to take a break from the usual news and posts about random gaming weirdness and spend a little time reminiscing. I want us all to take a few minutes and appreciate our Dreamcasts. Today marks the seventh year anniversary of the North American launch of the little white devil, a beautifully compact monster that spawned some of the best games of the generation. So go to the closet, unhook that unsightly Xbox from your composite inputs, and lets have a classic Sega gaming freakout. More »

Ikaruga, The Flash Shooter

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 14:23:30 EDT

Some are delightful, but face it, the vast majority of flash games are "meh." But this one is different, this one is Ikaruga! As far as shmups go, there's Ikaruga and then there's everything else. Japanese game developer Treasure released this classic shooter back in 2001 on the Dreamcast and then the GameCube. Reader Galen sent along this neat, little flash Ikaruga that features the game's first boss. Might want to turn the quality down as otherwise the game runs slower than molasses. Brian Ashcraft More »

Ikaruga, The Manga

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:21:29 EDT

Anyone who's played Treasure's classic shooter Ikaruga, knows one thing: it rocks. Here's an equally cool, and moody, manga from Japan. It was dug up on the Shmups.com forums and created by cantHUE. While I would've expected something a with a lot more lasers, this looks like a bulls-eye. Beautiful, elegant stuff! Brian Ashcraft More »

Ikaruga Chapter 5 Hard Video, or What The SHMUP?!

brownlee — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 12:40:52 EDT

It's impossible to top the ambidextrous Ikaruga video we posted last week; that guy instantly made every other SHMUP video irrelevant until someone figures out a way to beat one with his crotch. More »

Ambidextrous Man Rocks Ikaruga Two-Player

brownlee — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 16:40:51 EDT

Another reason to thank God for making you a lefty and that Catholic nun for calling you Satanic until you turned ambidextrous. No one should be good at SHMUPs. FLORIAN ECKHARDT More »